OPIUM CHARGES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 70, 24 March 1938, Page 22

OPIUM CHARGES

CHINESE IN COURT

HEAVY FINES IMPOSED

An opium raid carried out by. police at an early hour'today resulted in the subsequent appearance in the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., of eight Chinese, one of whom was charged with permitting premises in Haining Street to be used for the purposes of smoking opium, and the other seven with being found on the premises. William Low, a gardener, aged 43, faced the major charge, and pleaded guilty. ■ ' • ',"'■■ Sub-Inspector D. J. McLean prosecuted, and Mr. J. Meltzer appeared for all the accused. At 12.20 a.m. today, said Sub-Inspec-tor McLean, Sergeant Payne, in charge at Mount Cook, accompanied by Sergeant Straff on and other members of the Police Force, went to Low's place, which had been under .observation for some time past. As in many previous cases, of the kind, the doors and windows were barricaded, but\ the police effected, an entrance and found a number of Chinese under the effects of opium An varying degrees. There was ample evidence that opium smoking was going on, a number of pipes and bther material being found. Low had not been previously convicted for keeping premises for opium smoking, although he had been convicted for being on premises' which were used for that purpose. "WELL MIXED UP." Mr. Meltzer said it was admitted that Low. was the keeper, but he had had not been before the, Court previously for a similar' offence. , Mr. •.Hewitt: That is so,, but he has been well mixed up. ■ ' ;: "After all," said Mr. Meltzer, "it was Only right to get a- subjective view rather .than 'an objective one. These men do not-themselves-think they are doing* anything wrong, "although we say they are committing an offence against the laws of the country." The accused was convicted and fined £75.' ■ ' Seven Chinese, Ah Fong, a laundryman, aged 65, Jim Hong, a fruiterer, aged 54, Ah Sum, a gardener, aged 38, Low Qun, a fruiterer, aged 59, Ng Kum Tongi a cook, aged 35, Chow Kong, a fruiterer, aged 25, and Joe Wing, a'fruiterer, aged 40, all pleaded guilty to being found without lawful excuse on premises used for the purpose of smoking opium. Sub-Inspector McLean produced finger-print documents, showing previous convictions against all the accused..1:' ' . ■■" ' f

After the merits of each case had been discussed, all the accused were convicted. Ah Fong was fined £30, Jim Hong £20, Ah Sum £30; Low Qun £17 10s, Ng Kum Tong £50, Chow Kong £15, and Joe Wing £20.